Keep yourself in the love of God

Jude 20–21

The evening before the crucifixion our Lord admonished us to"remain in my love" (John 15:9). Jude repeats the same admonition, keep yourselves in the love of God (Jude 21) and then shows us how to do so. There is a sense in which the burden is upon us!

Some of us are like the prodigal son. When he left home it did not mean the father stopped loving him. While he was away the father’s love never changed. What had changed was that the young man had removed himself from the place of blessing and from the environment of the father’s love.

The same truth applies to us. Three important words in Jude 20-21 give us the secret to abiding in the Father’s love. These three words, “building, praying, looking,” describe how we can keep ourselves in the Father’s love.

I. The inward look of edification

Building yourselves up in your most holy faith (Jude 20).

II. The upward look of supplication

Praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20).

III. The forward look of anticipation

All of these words — building, praying, looking — should continually characterize our behavior. To remain in His love, we should be continually building ourselves up in the word of God, praying in the Holy Spirit and looking for the return of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The inward look of edification, the upward look of supplication and the forward look of anticipation will serve to “keep us in the love of God” daily.